Disability Rights

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is an agreement that sets out what countries have to do to make sure that people living with disability have the same rights as everybody else.

Australia joined the agreement on 17 July 2008. This means that all Australian governments (Federal, State, Territory and local) have to make sure that people with disability are treated equally in all areas of life.

• Read the full text of the CRPD in English — accessible PDF
• Read the Easy Read version of the CRPD – English
• Watch Auslan translation videos of the CRPD
• Read translations of the CRDP in other languages.

Disability discrimination is when a person is treated unfairly because they have a disability.

The Federal Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992 provides protection against discrimination based on disability for everyone in Australia.

It is against the law to discriminate against people with disability in many areas of public life, including:

• Employment or jobs
• Education
• Buying things and using services
• Playing sport and joining clubs and associations
• Buying or renting a house or other buildings
• Access to public places
• Using Commonwealth Government service.

If you are discriminated against because of your disability you can make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission using the link below. Complaints can be lodged online or lodged by mail. The Commission can also send you a complaint form and if needed, they can help you to write down your complaint. You can call them on 02 9284 9600.

You can make a complaint no matter where you live in Australia and it doesn't cost anything to make a complaint. Read about the process for complaints about disability discrimination.

Information about complaints is available at the below links in Auslan and easy read versions.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) is supplemented by a series of Disability Standards and Guidelines. The Disability Standards provide more detail on the rights and responsibilities around equal access and opportunity for people with a disability.

Standards and Guidelines are developed in the areas of employment, education, public transport, access to premises, accommodation and the administration of Commonwealth laws and programs.

Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031 is Australia's national disability policy framework. It is driving action at all levels of government to improve the lives of people with disability.

South Australia's first State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019-2023 – Inclusive SA – was established as part of the Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA). It brings State Government agencies and local councils together to reduce the barriers faced by people living with disability.

The Inclusive SA website is a new website created to provide key resources that support key priorities and actions from the State Plan. The website provides a series of Accessible and Inclusive Toolkits to support local councils and other SA Government agencies to address barriers and promoting positive actions to create inclusive communities.